Principal Mechanical Engineer, CHAOS Industries

• The ideal candidate has strong hands-on mechanical CAD and system integration experience, demonstrated prototyping skills, a deep understanding of ruggedized hardware design, and a proven ability to work independently and guide cross-disciplinary engineering efforts
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline
• 8+ years of progressively responsible experience in platform-level mechanical design and system integration for aerospace and defense applications
• Proven experience integrating mechanical subsystems and mission systems into vehicles, mobile platforms, or fixed installations
• Strong proficiency with CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks or equivalent) for large assemblies and top-down design
• Solid understanding of mechanical interfaces, tolerancing, alignment, installation practices, and interface control documents (ICDs)
• Familiarity with structural analysis methods (hand calculations, FEA)
• Familiarity with ruggedized military hardware and environmental qualification considerations
• Experience interpreting and applying military standards, such as MIL-STD-810 and related platform qualification requirements
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical decisions and resolve complex, cross-disciplinary integration challenges
• Strong communication skills and ability to operate effectively in multi-project development environments
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

Desirable

• CHAOS is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer – Platform Integration to provide high-value, hands-on mechanical expertise for the integration of ruggedized electronics, effectors, and mission-critical hardware into ground- and sea-mobile platforms for aerospace and defense applications
• In this role, you will own and lead the design for mechanical integration of military electronics and effector systems with critical platform structures and mechanisms
• Design challenges may range from compact electronics enclosures to larger structural or mechanism assemblies, depending on platform and mission requirements
• The position spans the full product lifecycle, from early concept development and architecture through detailed design, analysis, prototyping, qualification testing, production, and sustainment of fielded systems
• Provide technical leadership and hands-on prototyping and mechanical integration of mission systems: electronics, enclosures, effectors, launchers, mechanisms, and support equipment into ground- and sea-mobile platforms
• Architect and design mechanical structures, frames, mounts, enclosures, and mechanisms subject to shock, vibration, thermal, and environmental constraints
• Develop and maintain 3D CAD models, assemblies, and interface control documentation (ICDs) to support multi-disciplinary system integration
• Perform first-order structural and thermal analyses and requirements allocations to ensure compliance with customer requirements and applicable military standards
• Lead system-level integration, qualification, and acceptance activities, including oversight of installation, alignment, and fit-check efforts
• Serve as a primary technical hardware interface with customers, platform providers, suppliers, and manufacturing partners. Perform make/buy assessments
• Support production transition, configuration control, and fielded system sustainment, including investigation and resolution of integration issues